Uncovering Marine Protist and Algal Diversity and its Ecological Roles

Marine protists and algae represent extreme levels of biodiversity that is essential to sustaining the vast oceans on our planet. Currently described species of protists and algae represent only a very small proportion of their diversity. As such, our knowledge of the functional role of these organisms in the marine environment remains limited.

This Research Topic features the latest research in uncovering the vast diversity of marine protist and algae, and the functional role of these organisms in various ecological niches in the oceans. The collection articles will feature high-quality and latest research in marine protist and algae, encompassing a broad range of disciplines ranging from cell biology, molecular biology, physiology, taxonomy, ecology, and evolution.

We are seeking papers describing original research and/or innovative methodology that investigates the diversity, ecology, physiology, and evolution of marine protist and algae from various ecological niches in the marine environment. Suitable themes include:
- systematics, taxonomy, and diversification of marine protists and algae
- genetic, morphological, and ecophysiological diversity of marine protists and algae
- ecological function of marine protist and algae in their natural habitats, including their interactions with symbiotic, commensal, or parasitic partners

Leading experts of diverse disciplines in the research of protists, algae, and aquatic botany will share and discuss their latest findings at the Asian Pacific Congress of Protistology (APCOP-V) 2024 in Brisbane, Australia, jointly with the 38th Annual Meeting of the Australasian Society for Phycology and Aquatic Botany (ASPAB).

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: algae, protist, biodiversity, marine ecology, systematics, taxonomy, phylogenetics, cell biology, physiology, molecular biology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.